The close confidante of chief minister B.S. Yediyurappa, who has been at the centre of the latest political confrontation, on her relationship with BSY
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Shobha Karandlaje,
Karnataka’s rural development and panchayati raj minister and close confidante of chief minister B.S. Yediyurappa has been at the centre of the latest political confrontation between the Reddy brothers of Bellary and the CM. She spoke to Outlook on her relationship with BSY. Excerpts:
How did you become the eye of this political storm?
I have still not found an answer to why people are targeting me. If they want to make charges, they have to have evidence. For that matter, what are the allegations? I have been asking my detractors to tell me if I have been corrupt or if I have swallowed public property. They place nothing on the table, but simply want me to quit.
There’s talk about you and the CM...
It’s very difficult for Indian women to enter politics. The moment they step out of their houses, tongues start wagging. Tell me which woman politician in this country has been spared? Be it Indira Gandhi or Jayalalitha, they have been subjected to the same kind of treatment. The male psyche works that way—they think that a woman’s role is in the kitchen. The strength of a woman is her ability to do dedicated and sincere work. This is sometimes not tolerated.
Have you ever discussed these personal attacks with the CM?
I have never directly spoken about it to the CM. His family too has not been unduly bothered about it. But I have discussed it with elders in the RSS and Sangh parivar.
How would you describe your relationship with Yediyurappa?
He is my political guru. He has given me fatherly affection. Many women have worked in our party and Yediyurappa has never misbehaved with any of them. I respect him a lot. I am deeply pained that some people have tried to create a cloud of suspicion about our relationship.
Are people attacking you because you are the lone woman minister or because you are seen to be close to Yediyurappa?
This is clearly a personal attack. I may be close to the CM, but then you try to work closely with whoever your party appoints as your leader. Today, Yediyurappa is our leader and we respect him. If tomorrow the party picks someone else as our leader, we’ll have to accept that too.